Land grid array connector having improved cover

ABSTRACT

An LGA connector ( 100 ) adapted for receiving an electronic package ( 10 ), includes a housing ( 2 ) and a number of contacts received in the housing, a stiffener ( 3 ) enclosing the housing, a cover ( 5 ) pivotable between an open position and a closed position, and a lever ( 4 ) adapted for retaining the cover. The cover includes a pair of opposite first edges ( 53 ) each having a pair of resisting beams ( 531 ) extending toward opposite directions and projecting toward the housing. The resisting beams resiliently resist against the electronic package when the cover is rotated to the closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, andparticularly to a land grid array (LGA) connector for electricallyconnecting with an electronic package such as an IC package.

2. Description of Related Art

A land grid array connector electrically connecting an IC package isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,345 issued on Dec. 13, 2005 or U.S.Patent Publication No. 2007/0020963 published on Jan. 25, 2007. Theconnector comprises a stiffener having a front wall and a rear wall, ahousing received within the stiffener for supporting the IC package, aplurality of contacts retained within the housing in contact with the ICpackage, a cover and a lever respectively rotatably mounted on the rearwall and the front wall of the stiffener. The cover comprises a windowdefined in center thereof for partially exposing the IC package and fourside edges surrounding the window for confining the IC package.

The IC package could not be fixed in the stiffener firmly.

Hence, an improved land grid array connector is required to overcome theabove-mentioned disadvantages of the related art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a land grid arrayconnector firmly fixing the IC package.

To achieve the aforementioned objects, an LGA connector adapted forreceiving an IC package comprises a housing and a plurality of contactsreceived in the housing, a stiffener enclosing the housing, a covermounted on the stiffener and pivotable between an open position and aclosed position, and a lever pivotably mounted on the stiffener toretain the cover. The cover comprises a pair of opposite first edgeseach having a pair of symmetrical resisting beams extending towardopposite directions and projecting toward the housing. The resistingbeams resiliently resist against the IC package when the cover isrotated to the closed position.

The pair of resisting beams are symmetrically formed and resilientlyresist against the IC package to thereby provide a balanceable resilientforce to fix the IC package firmly.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of an LGA connector inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the LGA connector as shown inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cover as shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe thepresent invention in detail. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an LGA connector100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis adapted for electrically connecting with an IC package 10. The LGAconnector 100 comprises a housing 2, a plurality of contacts (not shown)inserted within the housing 2, a stiffener 3, a lever 4, a cover 5 and aring 6.

Referring to FIG. 2, the housing 2 is of a rectangular configuration andcomprises a conductive region 20, a pair of opposite supporting walls 21each defining a cutout 210 for easing the removal of the IC package 10.

The stiffener 3 comprises a body portion 30, a first window 32 definedin a center of the body portion 30, a front wall 32, a rear wall 31defining a pair of slots 310, a latch 33 formed on a side edge of thebody portion 30, and four mounting holes 34 defined at four cornerportions thereof for insertion of screws (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the cover 5 comprises a primary plate 50 and asecond window 55 defined in a center of the primary plate 50. Theprimary plate 50 has a front edge 52, a rear edge 51 opposite to thefront edge 52, a pair of opposite periphery edges 53 interconnectedtogether to surround the second window 55. The front edge 52 has atongue portion 524 extending forwardly therefrom and a protrusion 526projecting toward the housing 2. The rear edge 51 has a pair ofsymmetrical hooks 516 and a tail portion 511 formed between the pair ofhooks 516.

Each periphery edge 53 has a pair of indentations 532, an intermediateportion 533 formed between the pair of indentations 532 and a pair ofsymmetrically extending engaging beams 531 respectively formed in theindentations 532. Each engaging beam 531 bends downwardly and then tiltsupwardly to form an arc-like face 5311 projecting toward the stiffener 3for resisting against the IC package 10. The pair of engaging beams 531have a same configuration and extend toward opposite directions. In thisembodiment, the pair of engaging beams 531 are respectively connected tothe opposite edges of the intermediate portion 533. Optionally, the pairof engaging beams 531 could be separated from the opposite edges of theintermediate portion 533. The pair of engaging beams 531 could havedifferent length, or project a different dimension toward the stiffener3. Further more, more engaging beams 531 could be provided at otherportions of the cover 5.

The lever 4 comprises a shaft 41 and an actuator 42 perpendicular to theshaft 41 to thereby form the lever as a L-shape. The shaft 41 has anU-shaped bending portion 411 bending inwardly from a middle portionthereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, in assembly of the LGA connector 100, theplurality of contacts are pre-loaded within the housing 2. The housing 2together with the contacts is then mounted within the first window 32 ofthe stiffener 3. The cover 5 is assembled to the rear wall 31 of thestiffener 3. The hooks 516 of the cover 5 are inserted in the slots 310to make the cover 5 pivotable around the rear wall 31. The tail portion511 is disposed above the rear wall 31 for preventing an excessiverotation of the cover 5.

The shaft 41 of the lever 4 is assembled to the front wall 32, with thebending portion 411 depressing the tongue portion 524 of the cover 5.The ring 6 is assembled to a free end of the shaft 41 of the lever 4.

In operation, when the lever 4 is rotated upwardly to an open positiondue to an external force exerted thereon, the tongue portion 524 of thecover 5 is released by the bending portion 411 and the cover 5 isrotated to the open position. The IC package 10 is mounted on theconductive region 20 of the housing 2 and would be electricallyconnected to a circuit board (not shown) via the contacts. When thecover 5 is rotated to a horizontal closed position, the actuator 4 isdriven to the horizontal closed position, with the tongue portion 524depressed by the bending portion 411 of the lever 4. The actuator 42engages with latch 33 to keep the lever 4 together with the cover 5 inthe horizontal closed position.

At the same time, the engaging beams 531 and the protrusion 526 resistagainst the IC package 10 to provide a reliable and stable resilientforce to fix the IC package 10 firmly.

However, the disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made indetail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of partswithin the principles of the invention.

1. A land grid array connector adapted for receiving an electronicpackage, comprising: a housing and a plurality of contacts received inthe housing; a stiffener receiving the housing; a cover mounted on thestiffener and pivotable between an open position and a closed position,said cover comprising a pair of opposite first edges, each first edgehaving a pair of resisting beams extending toward opposite directionsand projecting toward the housing, said resisting beams resilientlyresisting against an electronic package when the cover is rotated to theclosed position; and a lever pivotably mounted on the stiffener toretain the cover.
 2. The land grid array connector as claimed in claim1, wherein said resisting beam bends downwardly and then tilts upwardlyto form an arc-like face projecting toward the housing.
 3. The land gridarray connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first edge defines apair of indentations accommodating said resisting beams and anintermediate portion disposed between the pair of indentations.
 4. Theland grid array connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pair ofresisting beams are connected to opposite edges of the intermediateportion.
 5. The land grid array connector as claimed in claim 3, whereinsaid pair of resisting beams extend away from opposite edges of theintermediate portion.
 6. The land grid array connector as claimed inclaim 3, wherein said pair of resilient beams have a same length.
 7. Theland grid array connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pair ofresilient beams project a same dimension toward the housing.
 8. The landgrid array connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover comprisesa front edge, a rear edge opposite to the front edge, and a pair ofopposite periphery edges.
 9. The land grid array connector as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said pair of first edges constitute the pair ofperiphery edges.
 10. The land grid array connector as claimed in claim8, wherein said pair of first edges constitute the front and rear edges.11. The land grid array connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidstiffener is formed with a rear wall defining a pair of slots, and saidcover is provided with a pair of hooks pivotably engaging with theslots.
 12. The land grid array connector as claimed in claim 11, whereinsaid cover has a tail portion disposed between the pair of hooks forpreventing an excessive rotation of the cover.
 13. The land grid arrayconnector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover has a tongueportion, and said lever has a bending portion engaging with the tongueportion at the closed position.
 14. The land grid array connector asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said cover has a protrusion projectingtoward the housing for resisting against the electronic package.
 15. Theland grid array connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housinghas a pair of supporting walls each defining a cutout for easing removalof the electronic package.
 16. A socket for use with an electronicpackage, comprising: an insulative housing defining an upward receivingcavity; a metallic cover pivotally up and down moveable relative to thehousing at open and closed positions for exposing or covering thereceiving cavity, said cover defining a central opening for allowingextension of the electronic package when said electronic package isreceived in the receiving cavity, a pair of opposite inner edge regionsbeing formed by two sides of said central opening along a front-to-backdirection which is perpendicular to a pivot axis of said cover withregard to the housing; a pair of spring arms unitarily formed on each ofsaid inner edge regions under a condition that said pair of spring armsextend in opposite directions.
 17. The socket as claimed in claim 16,wherein said pair of spring arms extend away from each other.
 18. Thesocket as claimed in claim 16, further including a lever to press thecover downward toward the housing.
 19. A socket for use with anelectronic package, comprising: an insulative housing defining an upwardreceiving cavity and defining a longitudinal direction; a metallic coverlocated around one longitudinal end of the housing and pivotally anddown moveable relative to the housing at open and closed positions forexposing and covering the receiving cavity, said cover defining acentral opening for allowing extension of the electronic package whensaid electronic package is received in the receiving cavity, a pluralityof inner edge regions surrounding said central opening; and a leverlocated around the other longitudinal end of the housing and pivotallyup and down moveable relative to the housing to press a distal end ofthe cover; wherein one of said inner edge regions extending in atransverse direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction andcloser to said lever, is equipped with a downward protrusion, and two ofsaid inner edge regions extending along said longitudinal direction arealso equipped with at least one downward protrusion for pressing anelectronic package which is received in the receiving cavity.